A/N: Hey guys. My Internet hasn't been working on my computer, so I've been having issues getting stuff up, but it's fine now. The time is going to pass differently for the people in Sunnydale than Buffy and Spike, but I hope it's not too confusing. Things will eventually even out. But here's the next chapter! Tell me what you think.

It was five weeks after Buffy had first woken up from being turned. She had ignored Spike, even though at first he tried to talk to her. Every time he was particularly persistent, she would run into the sunlight or lock herself in the bathroom if it was nighttime. Spike had eventually stopped trying, and now they simply avoided each other. They had remained in LA, and it seemed they wouldn't be leaving. Buffy never went out, and Spike brought her pig's blood. She hated it, but she couldn't starve herself. In short, it was a miserable life.

The only time Buffy did leave, she went to some big vampire party on Spike's arm. She never would have thought him one to go with that sort of crowd, but she guessed there was a need for reputation being kept up, especially after having killed the slayer. Vampires and demons would stare, amazed and shocked that someone had been able to kill a slayer, let alone dared to turn one. It was something that had never been done before. Yet even then, Buffy never spoke a word. She rarely smiled; just stayed on Spike's arm all night.

Now Spike was coming over towards Buffy as she sat on the couch watching TV.

"Next Saturday," was all he said as he laid down the box next to her.

After he had left the room, Buffy took the box into her room. Setting it on the bed, she pulled off the lid and picked up the dress. It was a white, silk dress that fell to the floor and revealed her back. Buffy had to admit: Spike had great taste. All of the dresses he picked were gorgeous; Spike was gorgeous.

Buffy shook her head. Thoughts of Spike that should never be there had been drifting in her head for a few weeks now. Every time she merely ignored them and chalked it up to Spike being her sire.

"Damn bastard…" she muttered to herself. Sighing, she hung the dress in the huge walk-in closet. She had stayed in the same room she had first found herself in, and Spike was in one next to her. When minions dared to ask questions, or even to talk amongst themselves, he killed them. So they learned to just accept what went on around there. Including Spike taking her pig's blood. They could smell the difference; she knew. But other than bringing her blood, dresses, and whatever she asked for (which wasn't much), Buffy and Spike had no interaction.

Buffy stepped out onto the balcony to watch the nightlife of LA go by. Leaning against the railing, she let her thoughts wander off again. Why did Spike keep her alive? Even though he knew she had a soul? He never mentioned anything about it. Never did anything to hurt her or bother her really. Actually, he seemed to do everything he could to just let her be. It almost made no sense. Almost. Eventually, Buffy had decided he was keeping her purely for the purpose of a trophy, and part of keeping her meant having her be as satisfied as she could. So when he gave her anything she asked for, it was just him trying to keep her satisfied.

Happy with reminding herself why Spike kept her around— or as happy as she could be under the circumstances— Buffy wondered what was going on back in Sunnydale…

*****

It had been three weeks since they had learned of Buffy's death. Most likely four since she had died, but it had been two long weeks of an annoying new watcher, and three of training a fairly new slayer and a brand new one. Three tortuous and trying weeks of mourning Buffy's death, of wondering what had happened, of having no idea what had happened since her disappearance.

And it was after these three weeks, that the completely unexpected happened.

Willow, Oz, Xander, and Cordelia sat around the table, researching the newest demon in town; Giles and Wesley were training Faith and Karen. All at once, the ground began to shake.

"What's happening?" Cordelia cried, clinging to the table. The others at the table did the same as the slayers and watchers stumbled to grab hold of something stable.

Clinging to the railing, Giles spoke. "Now children, this is California; it could just be a minor earthquake."

Xander shot him a disbelieving look. "and this is also the hellmouth. Earthquakes always mean something bad!"

Books began to fall off of shelves and crashes could be heard coming from Giles's office as the shaking increased.

Suddenly, a body appeared out of nowhere and fell to the ground at the same time as the shaking came to an abrupt halt. The group stared at it, five in wonder and the others in confusion.

"See? Bad," Xander was the first to speak.

"D-do you think that… he might have his soul?" Willow asked tentatively as she stared at Angel's unmoving body.

"Don't know, don't care. We should just stake him," Xander grabbed a stake that had fallen to the ground and moved towards Angel.

After getting over the shock and pain of seeing Angel, or possibly Angelus, returned, Giles spoke up. "He may have been returned for a reason. I think that it would be best to chain him up and question him when he awakes."

"Who is this creature?" Wesley demanded.

Giles sighed and took off his glasses. Rubbing them with a handkerchief he pulled out, Giles explained to the newcomers. "That is Angel, or possibly Angelus, the Scourge of Europe for centuries. Cursed by a clan of gypsies to have his soul returned to him until he lost it, causing the events leading up to and including Acathala. And now he's back. Though if he has his soul intact or not is yet to be seen."

As Giles went through his spiel, Xander moved over to Angel and dragged him into the cage where he locked him up. Wesley stared in shock and looked as if he was about to pee his pants when he heard who Angel was. Faith looked intrigued, and Karen looked confused.

"What do you mean Angel or Angelus?" she asked.

"When he has a soul he's known as Angel. Otherwise… he's Angelus. A mean, ruthless bastard," stated Cordelia as she stared at the body lying on the ground.

Just then, Angel moaned as he began to move. The gang stared at him as he slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position. Looking around, he spoke in a scratchy voice that sounded as though it hadn't been used in years.

"Buffy? Wh-where's Buffy?" Xander flinched at the question. Then he shot back a retort.

"She's dead. And I'll bet you're just so happy about that." Shock was plainly written on Angel's face. Tears began to spill from his eyes.

"Buffy's dead?" Angel asked in a weak voice.

"It's Angel," Willow said as she moved to unlock the cage. "Angelus wouldn't be able to make himself cry about her death, even if he wanted to."

They watched as she unlocked the cage and went inside to comfort him. Wrapping her arm around his body as sobs racked through him, she stroked his hair in an attempt to comfort him.

*****

In another week, Angel had adjusted enough to being back and Buffy's death to help out the gang. He had no idea why he had been returned, and it seemed that no amount of research would forfeit the answer. They were close to giving up trying.

Angel helped the girls to patrol, and the gang fell into a habit. Slayers and Angel patrol at night, gang did research when something came up, and then they help beat it down. 

About 2 weeks after Angel's return, he and Karen were on patrol alone, since Faith was badly injured from a fight the night before against six rather large demons. Karen and Angel had managed to get out of it relatively unscathed, but Faith who had taken on three by herself had gotten a nasty stab in her stomach.

As they walked along, Karen stole a glance at Angel. She knew he had loved Buffy, she had picked that up from the others' conversations, but she still couldn't help but find herself attracted to him. He was the only person that had been around before who would actually talk to her without bringing up Buffy, though she supposed it was a painful subject. Giles and the Scoobies were always mentioning how Buffy had done some great thing, or did things in a more efficient way. Faith was no help either since all she seemed to care about was slaying, and Wesley was just an idiot. Even Karen could see that.

Karen liked spending time with Angel. After a suggestion made by Giles, Angel had offered to train the girls in Tai chi, but only Karen had taken him up on the offer. Every Saturday she would leave her apartment and go to Angel's mansion for three or four hours. Karen always liked to stay out late on patrol. Not necessarily to slay more vampires as was Faith's reason, but because it meant more time with Angel. Not having any family made life easier in the slaying department. She never had to explain where she was or the blood on her clothes.

"Seems kind of slow tonight," Karen spoke up.

"Yeah, haven't run into anything yet. Maybe we should call it a night."

"No! That's not really… I mean, we'll probably find something soon…" Karen stumbled. She hadn't wanted to lessen her time with Angel, just start a conversation.

Angel looked at her oddly. "Alright," he said slowly. They continued on.

Karen racked her brain for something to say. Seventeen years and she never had figured out how to talk to guys.

Luckily, it seemed as though she didn't have to for now as three demons suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

The first demon tackled Angel to the ground while the other two rushed past towards Karen. As Angel struggled on the ground to kill his demon, Karen fell into a defensive stance, gripping the stake she held in her hand. One ran at her, and she stepped aside, causing the demon so trip over a tombstone. Taking advantage of the temporary absence, Karen swung to strike the last demon. As she sunk the stake into its chest, she felt a sharp set of claws rip down her backside. Angel has just stood after snapping the neck of the demon he had been fighting when he saw what happened, and Karen's scream pierced the still night air. As Angel rushed over and snapped the neck of the final demon, Karen fell to the ground. Her back was bleeding and looked like it was cut pretty deep. Not knowing what else to do, Angel scooped her up into his arms and raced off to the mansion.

*****

Karen moaned as she came to. Slowly, she sat up and looked around. She was lying in a king-sized bed in what looked to be someone's bedroom. Looking down at herself, she noticed most of her shirt had been ripped off, and a bandage was wrapped around her middle. Slowly, the memories of the previous night began to return. The three demons, the one who tackled Angel, one tripping, killing the other, and the claws that ripped through the soft flesh of her back… She gasped at the memory. She could still feel the claws rake down her back.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Angel stepped in. He was carrying a glass of water and bottle of Aspirin.

"You're up," he said as he set the items on the nightstand by the bed.

"Yeah…" Karen trailed off, a dazed look on her face.

"The pills are for you. They should dull the pain."

"Thanks." Shakily, she grabbed the bottle. At first Angel watched her fumble to take off the cap, but then took it from her grasp. Opening it, he handed her two. She smiled sheepishly at him before drinking them down. Setting the now empty glass back on the nightstand, she moved to stand.

"I should probably get going… What time is it?"

"Umm… about 7:30 I think."

"In the morning?! Oh shit! I'm gunna be late to school! I'm really sorry, I have to go." Karen rushed out of the room. Angel chased after her.

"Karen!" he shouted as she neared the front door. She turned to face him. "Uhh... your shirt," he motioned with his hand. Karen looked down at her tattered shirt, embarrassed that she had forgotten.

"You could have one of mine if you want," Angel offered.

"That… That would be nice. Thanks." She followed him back to his room. Going over to a chest of drawers, Angel opened one and pulled out a black t-shirt.

"It might be a little big…"

"That's fine," Karen said graciously as she accepted the shirt. Angel stepped out and shut the door behind him to let her change.

Karen glanced around the room. So this was Angel's bedroom. Where he slept; her hand brushed over the foot of the bed. She breathed in deep. It smelled like him. Smiling softly to herself, she slipped off the remains of her shirt and pulled Angel's black one over her head. Then she went out the door.

"I'll throw away what's left of your old one," Angel told her. She nodded thanks and turned to go. She paused; then slowly turned around. Grabbing him, she hugged him briefly.

"Thanks," she mumbled into his chest. Then she was gone.

A/N: Hope you guys liked the chapter! I know, lots of Sunnydale and not a lot of Spuffy. Since that is where this is all going in case you guys haven't noticed, I'm going to have more of that next chapter. I think the chapters are basically going to be alternating between Sunnydale and LA until the times fit together again. Review please! I'd love to know what everyone thinks on how I'm doing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've already got a good start on the next chapter, about half probably, so that should be along soon.